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Friday, October 18, 2013

New Jersey 14th Marriage Equality State…ALMOST

Same-sex marriages will begin within days in New Jersey after the state's
highest court ruled unanimously Friday to uphold a lower-court order that gay
weddings must start Monday and to deny a delay that was sought by Gov. Chris
Christie's administration.

"The state has advanced a number of arguments, but none of them
overcome this reality: Same-sex couples who cannot marry are not treated
equally under the law today," the court said in an opinion by Chief Justice
Stuart Rabner. "The harm to them is real, not abstract or
speculative."

A judge on the lower court had ruled last month that New Jersey must
recognize same-sex marriage and set Monday as the date to allow gay weddings.
Christie, a Republican who is considered a possible 2016 presidential
candidate, appealed the decision and asked for the start date to be put on hold
while the state appeals.

A spokesman for Christie said that he will comply with the ruling, though he
doesn't like it.

"While the governor firmly believes that this determination should be
made by all the people of the State of New Jersey, he has instructed the
Department of Health to cooperate with all municipalities in effectuating the
order," spokesman Michael Drewniak said in a statement.

The ruling puts New Jersey on the cusp of becoming the 14th state — and the
third most populous among them — to allow same-sex marriage.